Gift Ideas After Surgery - 5 Ideas

Surgery is at worst a harrowing experience and at best a real drag. Any type of surgery that requires more than a day or two of recovery can put a serious kink the surgery patient's lifestyle.

Anybody who has undergone surgery knows how a person usually feels during the first few days after returning from the hospital. First off, they are a bit disoriented given that they are thrown off of their regular routine. They may also be feeling a bit drowsy, dizzy or just plain "out of it," given the effects of the general anesthesia and any other pain medications. The person will also likely also be experiencing at least some pain or discomfort at the site of the surgery.

Meanwhile, for more serious types of surgery such as heart surgery, back surgery, and hip surgery, the disorientation, discomfort and inconvenience might last for weeks or even months. During this time, the patient can feel bored and even a bit lonely as they nurse their body and spirit toward recovery.

If there is someone in your life whom you would like to cheer up after surgery, here are 5 ideas for gift ideas after surgery:

1. Daily Massages:

Therapeutic and personal massage salons are popping up all over the country these days. You can find really good ones in malls, strip malls and standalone buildings in most small and midsize towns and most cities. In addition, there are many licensed, reputable massage professionals who make house calls.

In terms of gift ideas after surgery, the gift of a massage cannot be beat. Of course, the masseuse/masseur will want to avoid directly massaging the site of the surgery itself, but in general, a full-body massage can raise the spirits and speed along recovery.

2. Help Around The House:

Short on money but still want to give a meaningful gift to the surgery patient you care about? Almost everyone needs a little help around the home. If working inside is your forte, offer to do some laundry, perform spring cleaning, or organize a room or two. If working outside is your thing, offer to do some gardening or to clean up the yard. Hint: be sure to ask their permission before getting to work: you don't want to step on any toes by being more helpful than is welcome!

3. Dinner In:

Another great surgery recovery gift idea is that of a warm, delicious meal. The last thing a recovery surgery patient wants to do is to cook. And, eating TV dinners and delivered pizza gets old pretty quickly. Since a home-cooked meal is always welcome, why not make a large meal like a pan of lasagna? They can always freeze the leftovers and have them again in a few days.

4. Trip To The Movies:

Doctors recommend that most recovery surgery patients get up and about as often as they can. In fact, staying in bed or sitting on the couch for too long after surgery can actually hinder proper recovery for many types of surgery, since exercise is usually a part of recovery. A great gift idea is to buy some movie passes or even to offer to pick up and accompany him or her for a night at the movies.

5. Gift Basket:

One of the easiest ways to show you care is with a gift basket. Gift baskets come in a variety of styles, themes and sizes to please just about anybody. Do you think that gift baskets are just for female surgery patients? Think again: gift baskets can be very masculine-themed, featuring sports and outdoor activity themes. They can also appeal to the movie lover (DVDs), avid reader (books and magazines) and even to the connoisseur of fine wines and cheeses.

Get-well-soon gifts (or gifts of your time) are a great way to show someone who is in recovery after surgery that you care.